Although she no longer holds an official position Baroness Williams is seen as the Grandmother of the Liberal Democrats. She exerts huge influence on LibDem Peers, which was amply demonstrated in their stance on the Lisbon Treaty, which ran counter to that of the party leadership. After Nick Clegg and Charles Kennedy she is probably the LibDems’ most recognized face on TV.

12. Norman Baker

Transport Spokesman

The maverick’s maverick, Baker is seen as an obsessive, even by his party colleagues. He recently published a book asserting that Dr David Kelly was murdered. He’s viewed as the very antithesis of a team player, but is an effective media operator despite his less than matinee idol looks.

13. Tom McNally

Leader of the LibDems in the House of Lords

A genial figure, Lord McNally started political life as head of James Callaghan’s political office. Elected to the Commons in 1979 he defected to the SDP two years later. He was one of the key players in the overthrow of Charles Kennedy. He was elected leader of LibDem peers unopposed, succeeding Shirley Williams in 2004.

14. Ed Davey

Foreign Affairs Spokesman

Davey has been seen as a rising star of the LibDems, but his star seems to be very much on the wane. His period as Foreign Affairs spokesman has been disastrous, with an ill-judged walkout from the Commons chamber, and it recently emerged that he only got the job because Chris Huhne turned it down. Still chairs the Campaigns & Communications Committee, but may be set for demotion in Clegg’s next reshuffle.

15. Alex Carlile

Former LibDem MP

A former LibDem MP for Montgomeryshire (1983-97), Lord Carlile is now better known as the Government’s independent reviewer of anti terror legislation and a leading QC. He caused consternation among his LibDem colleagues by supporting the government’s line on 42 days detention for terror suspects. He successfully defended Paul Burrell against charges that he had stolen items from the estate of Princess Diana.

16. Evan Harris

LibDem MP for Oxford West & Abingdon

One of the doughtiest LibDem campaigners, Harris is an inveterate ‘taker-upper’ of causes, the latest being the pro abortion campaign. Strangely for a LibDem, he is also a powerful advocate of animal experimentation. Another LibDem who finds the concept of collective responsibility a strange one, he returned to the LibDem front bench in 2005 after a two year period caring for his very ill girlfriend.

17. Graham Watson

Leader of the LibDem MEPs

Graham Watson has been leader of LibDem MEPs since 2002. Between 1983 and 1988 he was head of David Steel’s private office after which he went into banking with HSBC in London and Hong Kong. Watson is a firm advocate of the Europe wide campaigning rather than having separate national campaigns in European elections.

18. Lembit Opik

Housing Spokesman

Second only to Charles Kennedy in the entertainment stakes, Opik is currently attempting to be elected President of the LibDems, a powerful position in the party’s structure. His reputation has taken a beating over his on-off relationship with one of the Cheeky Girls. Opik’s huge ambition is masked by a willingness to act of the fool , something many LibDems are tiring of.

19. Norman Lamb

Health Spokesman

A tenacious constituency campaigner, Lamb has established himself as a key player in the LibDem frontbench team. As his PPS, he was among the first to recognize there was a Charles Kennedy problem. As Trade & Industry spokesman he suffered a blow when the party rebuffed his plans to privatise parts of the Post Office, but he had the last laugh when he drove the policy through a year later.

20. Julia Neuberger

LibDem Peer

Best known for her ‘Thought for the Day’ slots on the Today Programme, Rabbi and Baroness Julia Neuberger recently became part of Gordon Brown’s Government of All the Talents when he recruited her to advise on volunteering. Her book The Moral State We’re In received much critical acclaim.